Matthews not pleased by 8-for-18 performance

Shane Matthews can play better. He knows he must.

Matthews looked like a carbon copy of Steve Stenstrom in theBears' 9-6 preseason victory over Indianapolis on Saturday night,going 8-of-18 for 110 yards. He was 5-of-10 for 57 yards on hisfinal drive, which ended with a 30-yard field goal by Todd Sauerbrun.

"I didn't play nearly as well as I wanted to," Matthews said. "Mycompletion percentage was just horrible. That's one thing I think Ican bring to this team - if it's not open downfield, dump it off andgo on to the next play. But 8-of-18, that's not going to get itdone."

Though he has played in only two games in his six-year NFL career,Matthews has prided himself on playing well when he gets in a game.He couldn't this time.

"I made a few bad reads. A couple of balls slipped out of myhands," he said. "For the most part, if I make the correct reads andthrow it on time, those balls are completed."

BIG IMPRESSION: Macey Brooks made another bid to stick with fivecatches for 51 yards.

"I guess I was just the right person at the right place at theright time," he said.

But he's careful not to make too much of it.

"You just have to keep working hard and try to make plays and makethe team," he said.

DRAFT NEWS: Linebacker Chris Draft is on the bubble in a crowdedfield. He has played well in practice and made a key play againstthe Colts by recovering a fumble that clinched the game. GregWilliams, the former Bolingbrook high school All-American, caused thefumble.

"I don't know how important a play like that is," Draft said. "Ihope it's important. But you never know. Anything good helps."

KICKING BACK: Sauerbrun was 3-for-4 on field goals as a stand-infor Jeff Jaeger, who was out with a hip injury. Sauerbrun missedfrom 41 yards, then hit field goals of 25, 30 and 31 yards to providethe margin of victory.

"I just hope Jeff comes back soon enough so I can focus on my joband let Jeff do his thing," Sauerbrun said.

COMPLIMENTS: Coach Dick Jauron was pleased with the effort by thedefense.

"I thought Rashard Cook stood out," Jauron said. "I thought therewere three big hits he made. I thought Warrick Holdman was veryactive on the field. Khari Samuel made a nice hit on a special-teamsplay. There were a number of good things."

BACK IN BUSINESS: Tom Carter is picking up where he left off.

The veteran Bears cornerback, who had two interceptions in threegames last year before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone inthe fourth game, intercepted a Peyton Manning pass in the firstquarter.

Manning underthrew wide receiver E.G. Green on a deep pass, andCarter easily cut in front of Green to make the interception.